Orbital Sciences Corporation confirmed a premature separation of a launch pad umbilical connection to its Antares rocket's upper stage used for data communications halted Wednesday’s countdown of the Antares test launch. Engineers currently are analyzing what occurred to determine what measures will be taken to resolve the issue.

During a launch countdown, safeguards are put in place to periodically verify all systems are functioning as planned. With twelve minutes left in the count, the launch team identified the anomaly and called a scrub of Wednesday’s test launch attempt.

The next launch attempt from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va. is tentatively set for no earlier than Friday, April 19, pending final resolution of the issue and acceptable weather conditions. The team is targeting a 5:00 p.m. EDT launch.

NASA Television will begin live coverage of the second launch attempt beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Orbital has confirmed the next opportunity to test launch its Antares rocket from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia will be no earlier than 5 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 20.

NASA TV coverage of the launch will begin at 4:30 p.m. By the time coverage starts, the launch window will likely have been reduced to 10-15 minutes.

An attempt Friday was called off after review of the weather forecast. Saturday's forecast indicates an 85 percent chance of favorable conditions. If needed, a back-up launch opportunity is available on Sunday.